Rope-jumping device

ABSTRACT

A rope-jumping device that will provide exercise and entertainment for users in jumping, having a U-shaped rod structure with a bowed end rod and depending rod members that diverge outwardly to clear the sides of the user, and a flexible line secured to the ends of the rod members, which device is manipulated by the hands of the user on the bowed end rod to cause the flexible line to rotate over the head and under the feet of the user.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Franklin A. Deese 103 E. Oxford St., Chula Vista, Calil. 9201 l [21] Appl. No. 9,219 [22] Filed Feb. 6, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [54] ROPE-JUMPING DEVICE 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[5 2] U.S. Cl.. 272/75 511 rm.c| t. A63b 5/20 [50] Field of Search 272/74, 75

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 169,625 ll/l875 Crandell 272/74 3,072,402 1/1963 McCombs 3,466,032 9/1969 Thornton Primary Examiner Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard Dror Attorney-Carl R. Brown ABSTRACT: A rope-jumping device that will provide exercise and entertainment for users in jumping, having a U-shaped rod structure with a bowed end rod and depending rod members that diverge outwardly to clear the sides of the user, and a flexible line secured to the ends of the rod members, which device is manipulated by the hands of the user on the bowed end rod to cause the flexible line to rotate over the head and under the feet of the user.

PATENTEDJANI 1 1972 3533925 INVENTOR. FRANKLIN A. DEESE BY Fae/Z J/Mw ATTORNEY ROPE-JUMPING-DEVICE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION Jumping rope has amused children and adults for many years. The known rope-jumping devices usually comprise a flexible line with separate handles that are grasped by the user. The rope is rotated in a swinging movement over thehead and feet of the user in the known manner. While such rope-jumping devices can provide exercise and amusement-for children and adults, it has some limitations regarding use,'such as for example, it is difficult to pass the known rope-jumping devices from one person to another during use. Further it is difficult for a person with only one hand to use the known rope-jumping devices. Thus it is advantageous to have a rope jumping device that is easily used by children and adults to provide a repetitive and entertaining jumping movement and which device is inexpensive to make, is simple to use, hasadurable construction, and that provides a new and different use'from known rope-jumping devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an embodiment of this invention, a U-shaped structure solely comprising an end rod and a pair of dependent rod members has a flexible line secured to the ends of the dependent rod members. The end rod and the rod members are positioned in the same plane with the rod members diverging slightly outward to clear the sides of the user. The rod members are spaced from each other a sufficient distance to allow the user to be positioned therebetween. The end rod is slightly bowed outwardly to provide angled surfaces on each side of the midpoint of the rod that are easilygrasped and manipulated by the fingers in a rotating movement,.that rotates the end rods in a radial direction to the axis of'rotation of the'end rod. This swings the flexible line over the head and under the feet of the user when the user makes the required jumping movement. The rigid construction of the U-shaped structure allows, for example, rotational movement by a persons single hand, and also allows one person'to pass the rope-jumping device during use to another person.

It is therefore an object of this invention torprovide' anew and improved rope-jumping device.

It is another object of this invention toprovidea new'iand improved rope-jumping device that is inexpensive tomake, is durable in construction, and that is easy to operate to provide entertainment or exercise.

It is another object of this invention to providea new and improved rope-jumping device that may be operated by one hand of the user.

It is another object of this invention to providea'newand improved rope-jumping device that allows transfer of the rope-jumping device between different users duringoperation of the device.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and an examination of the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view of an embodiment of the ropejumping device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the U-shaped structure being manipulated by the hands of the user.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the use of the rope-jumping device of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial view with parts broken. away of another connection between one end of the depending rod'members and one end of the line.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of another connection of the end of the depending rod members and one end of the line.

Referring to FIG. 1, arope-jumping device has-a U- shaped rigid rod structure 12 to which issecured a flexible line 14. The ends 34 of the flexible line are secured to the ends 32 of the depending rod members'lS and by appropriate 'band structure 38, such as tape, metal bands or the like,that are easily removable toreplace'the line 14 when itis sufficiently worn through use. The U-shaped-structure 12 comprises an .end member .16 and depending rod'members'l8and 20.'Each of these members lie in the sameflat plane.

In use, the user l I,see'FIG..3, grasps the end member 16 with her hands 15 and throughmanipulation of herfingers and a'swinging movement, rotates the U-shaped structure 12 causing the flexible line I4 to'move over the head-and under the feet of the user]! when the user. jumps. It maybe observed that the end member 16 is essentially'rotated onan axis line 24 in, for example, the rotationaldirection ll In'reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,-.the:en'd'member.I6 is bowed outwardly with, forexample, oneiend 22'projecting'from the .axis of rotation 24 in an angle 28 that maybe about 12 This bow orbend in end'rod I6 allows'the usenll through her hands 15 to'rotate end rod 16 and the remaining structure .around'the axis 24. The depending'rod members l8and-20 "have, for example-an angle 30 of about 5from a Iine 26 perpendicularto the axis of rotation 24. This provides additional spacing between ends32 to'hold the .ends of the flexible line '38 outwardly from the user 11. The midportion of the line 36 is essentially the same distance'from'the connection to the respective ends of the line androd members as the end rod 16.

Therod members may have different end constructions for being secured to'the ends of'the line 14. Fonexample in FIG.

'4, the end 32 of the rod'membershas a -hollow open end 40 with an'aperture 42through'the-wall, through which projects the line l4'having a knot in the end thereof that'holds the 'line '14 in replaceable fashion to the-end32 of the rod members. In'FIG. 5,'there is illustrated an eyelet '46 connected to the end of'the'rod member 32*by anyknownmeangand the line member 48 is passedthrough an eyelet 46and secured thereto by a suitable knowrrwindir1g48.

It may be observed in using this invention, that the user Il may operate and rotate the U-shaped member 12 with a single hand. Also it maybe observed that-when one .userll is using *the device "manipulating therope-jumpingdevice l0 inthe USBI'S.

Having described my invention; I now claim.

1. A rope-jumping device. for'being'manipulated by a user comprising,

'a U-shaped structuresolely comprisingan end rod and a pair of depending rod members, said rod members having a space therebetween sufficient to receivea user, .a flexible line connected between the ends of said rod members, thedistance' between a'midportion-of said line and said end rod being greater than the height of a child user, said line hasa midportion-with a length substantially equal to the length of said. end ro'd, vand said midportion of said line and said end rod being spaced substantially equal distances from the connection of the ends of said line to the ends ofsaid rod members. 2'. A rope-jumping device for being manipulated by a user comprising,

a U-shaped structure solely .comprising an end rod and a pair of depending rod members, .said rod members having a space'therebetween sufficient to receive a user, a flexible line connected'between the .ends of said rod members, the distance between a midportion of said line and said end rod being greater than the height of-a child user, said rod members and said end rods are in the sameplane, said rod members diverge outwardly at a slight angle from each other, and said end rod is bowed outwardly along its length in a direction "away from said'rodmembers to' facilitate rotational movement by a user's hands. 3. A rope jumpingdevice as claimed in claim .2 in which,

5. A rope-jumping device as claimed in claim 1 in which, the ends of said flexible line overlapping the ends of said rod members, and removable band means for securing said ends together. 6. A rope-jumping device as claimed in claim 1 in which, the ends of said rod members having eyelet means for receiving the ends of said line. v

i I l i i 

1. A rope-jumping device for being manipulated by a user comprising, a U-shaped structure solely comprising an end rod and a pair of depending rod members, said rod members having a space therebetween sufficient to receive a user, a flexible line connected between the ends of said rod members, the distance between a midportion of said line and said end rod being greater than the height of a child user, said line has a midportion with a length substantially equal to the length of said end rod, and said midportion of said line and said end rod being spaced substantially equal distances from the connection of the ends of said line to the ends of said rod members.
 2. A rope-jumping device for being manipulated by a user comprising, a U-shaped structure solely comprising an end rod and a pair of depending rod members, said rod members having a space therebetweeN sufficient to receive a user, a flexible line connected between the ends of said rod members, the distance between a midportion of said line and said end rod being greater than the height of a child user, said rod members and said end rods are in the same plane, said rod members diverge outwardly at a slight angle from each other, and said end rod is bowed outwardly along its length in a direction away from said rod members to facilitate rotational movement by a user''s hands.
 3. A rope jumping device as claimed in claim 2 in which, in use said end rod has an axis of rotation when manipulated by a user, and said bowed condition comprising a bend in said end rod at its midpoint with each end portion of said end rod extending at about a 12* angle from said axis of rotation.
 4. A rope-jumping device as claimed in claim 3 in which, said rod members diverge outwardly from perpendicular to said axis of rotation at about 5* angle.
 5. A rope-jumping device as claimed in claim 1 in which, the ends of said flexible line overlapping the ends of said rod members, and removable band means for securing said ends together.
 6. A rope-jumping device as claimed in claim 1 in which, the ends of said rod members having eyelet means for receiving the ends of said line. 